Courtesy of Judith Gregg Librarian Catherine Arbogast heads out with a personalized book delivery from the Los Altos main library.

Love of learning and curiosity about the world sometimes grow only more urgent as a person spends more and more time at home, limited by age, health condition, or both. Librarians head out from the Los Altos main l...

Already known as an innovator in the tech field, Google Inc. is now moving in on the art world.

The Mountain View-based company July 11 launched the “Paint the Town” contest, a “moving art experiment” that invites California residents over the age of 13 to submit physical or digital artwork that would decorate the door...

Traci Newell/Town Crier The six-week, tuition-free Stretch to Kindergarten program, hosted at Bullis Charter School, serves children who have not attended preschool. A teacher leads children in singing about the parts of a butterfly, above.

courtesy of Rishi Bommannan Rishi Bommannan cycled from Bates College in Maine to his home in Los Altos Hills, taking several selfies along the way. He also raised nearly $13,000 for the Livestrong Foundation, which supports cancer patients.

The Town Crier’s recent article on coyotes venturing down from the foothills in search of sustenance referenced the organization Project Coyote (“Recent coyote attacks keep residents on edge,” July 1). Do not waste your time contac...

Photos by Alicia Castro/Town Crier Local residents participate in an exercise class at the Grant Park Senior Center, above. Betsy Reeves, below left with Gail Enenstein, lobbied for senior programming in south Los Altos.

Grace Wilson Franks, our beloved mother and grandmother, left us peacefully on July 16, 2015 just a few weeks short of her 92nd birthday. She was born to Ross and Florence (Cruzan) Wilson in rural Tulare, California on Septem...

Most of us have a place inside our hearts and minds that occasionally causes us trouble. For some, it is sadness, depression or despair. For others, it may be fear, anger, resentment or myriad other emotional “dark places” that at times seem to hij...

Abilities United recognized the contributions of local volunteers and celebrated its 50th anniversary April 25 at Microsoft Corp. in Mountain View.

Lynda Steele, Abilities United executive director for the past 20 years, discussed the nonprofit organization’s accomplishments over the past half-century before a capacity crowd of 300. The theme, “United for Inclusion of All Abilities,” highlighted the organization’s commitment to help people with developmental and physical challenges by providing training, education and support.

The Palo Alto-based Abilities United (formerly the Community Association for Rehabilitation) was founded in 1963 by 12 families whose children had intellectual disabilities. The organization serves those with developmental (autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome and intellectual disability) and physical disabilities and those at risk of developmental delay.

Steele described Abilities United’s vision for the future and how it could be realized, noting that over the past 50 years, the organization has demonstrated the significant contributions people with disabilities can make in the community.

“Based on their needs to be the best they can be, they used the opportunities, resources and supports we created together,” she told supporters. “The dark ages of institutional care and exclusion from society are nearly over. We now want to build on this solid foundation. Help us work side-by-side with other organizations and individuals to ensure a future of full inclusion, where people with and without disabilities live, learn, work and play together.”

State Sen. Jerry Hill and Assemblyman Rich Gordon joined Steele in presenting the awards to individuals and organizations that significantly impacted the people Abilities United serves. Award winners included the Golden Gate Regional Center and the San Andreas Regional Center, the Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto, the Sobrato Family Foundation, the Jarrett family and volunteers Jane Mangold and Linda Vargas. Abilities United recognized Karen Denny, John Fort, Carol Gleason, Peter Leung and Pamela Newman for their 20-plus-year careers at the organization.

Art created by artists from Abilities United decorated the walls at the event. Featured artists included Michael Broadhurst, Judy Wachner and Nick Golick. Storyboards highlighted their histories and those of other longtime supporters, including Abilities United’s first employee, 95-year-old Marie Mong of Los Altos.

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